Bosch run Bishops close
Rondebosch, beaten 52-14 at Rondebosch in June, went over to Bishops for the last matches of the season and Bishops were forced to come from behind to win 22-21, the difference a kick worth three versus a kick worth two.
Would that all rugby matches were played like this – with freedom, a sense of adventure and lots of skill, where passes were far, far more numerous than kicks, more numerous even than tackles – and all in such a good spirit.
It seemed for 55 of the 70 minutes that the hoodoo on the home side would be maintained, for in five years, the home side had failed to win this match. Not that home ground is a massive advantage for the two schools, 400 metres apart, share the same climate and all their lives they have been playing on each others' fields. They are used to this occasion, big though it is.
Just before half-time Rondebosch were leading 14-0 and then after 46 minutes, they were leading 21-12. Moreover they were playing more cohesively, making fewer errors and winning the 50-50 ball. In short they were sharper and dominating the game.
Rondebosch ran out from the Heatlie Pavilion on their blue jerseys while Bishops were wearing white when they came from the School House lawns through the crowd and onto the field.
There was bit of a southeaster blowing and Rondebosch had first use of it.
With the very first ball they got, Bishops ran.
With the very first ball they got, Rondebosch ran.
And the two teams kept on running till the final whistle went and schoolboys ran onto the field in an excited crowd.
Both [preferred counterattack to kicking the ball back.
Kyle Ballakistan of Rondebosch had a good run down the right and Rondebosch set up phases till they went wide left where speedy Clyde Martch had an overlap and raced for the corner to score. From far out, Jean Naudé converted. 7-0 after 15 minutes.
Zain Davids, playing centre this time, had a strong run on the right and again Rondebosch went wide left. Bishops were penalised and Rondebosch had a five-metre line-out.
Neither side was secure in its line-outs in this match. Rondebosch lost six and threw in skew once of 15 throws; Bishops lost three of seven throws.
From a scrum Martch had a strong run down the left but Tristan Leyds tackled him. At this stage Rondebosch suffered a yellow card for infringing after a penalty.
despite being down to 14 men Rondebosch continued to outplay Bishops. They won a Bishops line-out and went wide right. Back they came wide left where Jamie King, near touch, played a short pass inside to Martch who raced over for his second try. Riley Louw converted. 14-0 after 28 minutes.
Injuries forced Bishops to make two changes. André Manuel came on for Keenan Jacobs who was missing on defence because of injury when Martch scored, and Cornel Smit replaced Brandon Salomo.
Gerard Pieterse forged ahead and when he was tackled popped a pass. The ball went to Leyds who had defenders in close attendance but he beat two with clever footwork and then raced down. Faced by Louw he sent a perfect pass to Manuel who scored. 14-5 after 34 minutes, the half-time score.
Rondebosch missed an easy penalty and then cleared poorly under pressure. The ball came to Manuel who raced ahead in counter attack. He was tackled close to the Rondebosch line but Bishops got the ball and Justin Rowe-Roberts popped it to Sam Mitchell who burst over. 14-12 after 39 minutes.
A penalty gave Rondebosch a five metre line-out. They threw deep to substitute Lihle Kula and mauled. They drove over the line and Liam Greenhalgh was credited with the try. 21-12 after 46 minutes.
In the remaining rime Davids had two great breaks with long runs but without any support close at hand.
Bishops attacked on the right and then wen left where Mitchell took an inside pass and burst ahead before passing to Abrahams on his left and the eighthman scored under the posts. 21-19 after 51 minutes.
When Rondebosch were penalised a tackle in a match of 23 penalties, Smit kicked the vital penalty to make the score 22-21 with 15 minutes to play.
It was the last score of the match though not to the excitement in an enthralling match.
Pity anybody lost.
Oh well, there's another match in June, and Rondebosch had only six of this year's team in matric
Scorers
For Bishops:
Tries: André Manuel, Sam Mitchell, Saud Abrahams
Cons: Cornel Smit 2
Pen: Cornel Smit
For Rondebosch:
Tries: Clyde Martch 2, Liam Greenhalgh
Cons: Jean Naude 2, Riley Louw
Teams
Bishops: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Keenan Jacobs, 13 Gerard Pieterse (captain), 12 Brandon Salomo, 11 Jesse Wilensky, 10 Jez MacIntyre, 9 Justin Rowe-Roberts, 8 Saud Abrahams, 7 Mervano da Silva, 6 Nic Bester, 5 Sam Mitchell, 4 Max Linley, 3 Jean-Pierre Smith, 2 Justin Carey, 1 William Day
Replacements: 16 Keanan Alexander, 17 Luciano da Graca, 18 Tim Kuhn, 19 Jarryd Lurie, 20 Ross Church, 21 Luke Leach, 22 Cornel Smit, 23 André Manuel
Coaches: André Jacobs, Mike Bayly
Manager: Geoff Kieswetter
Rondebosch: 15 Riley Louw, 14 Kyle Ballakistan, 13 Zain Davids, 12 Jay Stevens, 11 Clyde Martch, 10 Jean Naudé, 9 Mark Thompson, 8 Liam Greenhalgh, 7 Jamie King, 6 Robbie Waddilove (captain), 5 Imraan Andrews, 4 Byron Bowes, 3 Ashwyn Adams, 2 Russell Eaby, 1 Josh Emslie
Replacements: 16 Jordan Diekman, 17 Leo Figueira, 18 Lihle Kula, 19 Tommy Slootman, 20 S Smith, 21 Amani Minani, 22 Rory Thomson
Coaches: Clinton van Rensburg, Mark Lindenberg
Referee: Divan Uys (Western Province Referees' Society)
Results Down the Years
1911: Bishops won 18-0 & 25-0
1916: Bishops won 13-0 & drew 13-13
1917: Bishops won 5-3 & Rondebosch won 14-3
1918: Bishops won 16-0 & drew 0-0
1921: Bishops won 6-0
1923: Rondebosch won 9-8
1925: Rondebosch won 22-3
1926: Bishops won 10-9 & 6-3
1928: Bishops won 8-3 & 15-3
1929: Bishops won 7-3
1930: Bishops won 15-9 & 12-9
1931: Bishops won 11-3 & 16-9
1932: Bishops won 9-3 & 15-0
1933: Bishops won 11-6 & drew 3-3
1935: Bishops won 6-3
1936: Bishops won 49-0 & 37-3
1937: Drew 0-0 & Bishops won 6-3
1938: Rondebosch won 8-3 & Bishops won 16-6
1939: Rondebosch won 8-0
1940: Bishops won 25-3 & 11-8
1941: Bishops won 13-9 & Rondebosch won 8-3
1942: Bishops won 16-4 & 10-3
1943: Bishops won 21-0 & 31-3
1944: Rondebosch won 21-14 & 6-0
1945: Rondebosch won 6-0 & Bishops won 11-8
1946: Drew 3-3 & drew 3-3
1947: Bishops won 6-3 & Rondebosch won 9-6
1948: Rondebosch won 17-13 & Bishops won 13-6
1949: Bishops won 23-0 & 17-6
1950: Drew 14-14 & Rondebosch won 17-6
1951: Bishops won 8-0 & 17-0
1952: Rondebosch won 6-3 & drew 3-3
1953: Rondebosch won 6-3 & 13-3
1954: Rondebosch won 11-3
1955: Bishops won 9-6 & 8-6
1956: Bishops won 11-0 & Rondebosch won 9-6
1957: Rondebosch won 5-0 & drew 3-3
1958: Rondebosch won 8-0 & 8-6
1959: Bishops won 10-0 & Rondebosch won 3-0
1960: Drew 3-3 & Rondebosch won 12-3
1961: Rondebosch won 5-0 & 13-6
1962: Bishops won 3-0 & drew 6-6
1963: Rondebosch won 11-0 & 9-6
1964: Rondebosch won 13-0 & 13-0
1965: Drew 0-0 & drew 3-3
1966: Rondebosch won 14-3 & 12-3
1967: Drew 3-3 & Rondebosch won 20-0
1968: Rondebosch won 6-0 & drew 8-8
1969: Rondebosch won 11-6 & 25-3
1970: Rondebosch won 14-0 & 11-9
1971: Rondebosch won 8-3 & 24-3
1972: Rondebosch won 13-4 & 13-4
1973: Rondebosch won 13-12 & Bishops won 16-13
1974: Bishops won 9-3 & 18-4
1975: Bishops won 27-3 & 22-6
1976: Bishops won 14-13 & 22-12
1977: Rondebosch won 15-12 & 33-7
1978: Drew 6-6 & Bishops won 8-6
1979: Bishops won 9-0 & 24-0
1980: Rondebosch won 22-12 & Bishops won 10-3
1981: Bishops won 12-6 & 7-6
1982: Bishops won 18-6 & Rondebosch won 12-6
1983: Rondebosch won 18-10 & Bishops won 16-6
1984: Rondebosch won 7-0 & 15-11
1985: Bishops won 12-3 & Rondebosch won 16-9
1986: Bishops won 14-4 & 13-3
1987: Bishops won 12-7 & 15-3
1988: Bishops won 10-3 & 13-3
1989: Bishops won 58-10 & 7-4
1990: Bishops 14-7 & 9-0
1991: Bishops 12-9 & 21-9
1992: Bishops 34-3 & 27-6
1993: Bishops 28-10 & 19-5
1994: Rondebosch won 6-5 & 19-9
1995: Rondebosch won 7-6 & 11-10
1996: Rondebosch won 17-7 & 6-0
1997: Rondebosch won 18-0 & 31-11
1998: Bishops won 20-0 &15-7
1999: Rondebosch 16-15 & Bishops won 24-9
2000: Rondebosch 22-19 & 27-17
2001: Bishops won 17-0 & 18-0
2002: Bishops won 52-8 & 41-25
2003: Bishops won 18-5 & 78-19
2004: Bishops won 27-8 & Rondebosch won 26-22
2005: Bishops won 31-6 & 14-12
2006: Bishops won 71-3 & 75-22
2007: Bishops won 48-27 & 27-24
2008: Bishops won 20-8 & 47-15
2009: Bishops won 10-6 & Rondebosch won 16-10
2010: Bishops won 38-10 & the sides drew 19-19
2011: Bishops won 37-12 & Rondebosch won 34-18
2012: Bishops won 15-3 & Rondebosch won 19-11
2013: Bishops won 23-11& Rondebosch won 22-7
2014: Bishops won 52-14 & 22-21
